NFL star Cam Skattebo left New York Giants fans horrified on Saturday when he put his health at risk just over a month before the new season.
The 24-year-old is eyeing a return to the field in September but his latest antics almost landed him back on the injured reserve.
The running back, whose rookie season was cut short through injury last year, attended Fanatics Fest in the Big Apple at the weekend.
He made an appearance at the WWE Fanatics Fest activation, where fans could recreate the entrances of their favorite wrestlers.
Skattebo chose to recreate Triple H’s entrance and walked out to his Motörhead music, The Game.
Yet, Skattebo also put his own twist on the entrance, attempting to finish it with a little flourish.
NFL star Cam Skattebo left New York Giants fans horrified after performing a backflip
He attempted to perform a backflip – a move that has become somewhat of a signature for him on the football field – on stage.
But he could not quite stick his landing, instead slipping backwards with his surgically repaired right leg twisting as he fell.
The failed acrobatics left Giants fans with their hearts in their mouths as they sweated over the fitness of their star.
‘I can’t even imagine John Harbaugh’s reaction to seeing this LOL,’ one fan wrote referring to the Giants’ new head coach.
‘Honestly, this guy might be the dumbest NFL player to ever live.. including Antonio Brown,’ another claimed.
A third wrote: ‘A continuation on the IR. Who is his handler – we need this guy on the field not replacing his ACL..’
‘The backflip was cool… but I just know Harbaugh was screaming “GET DOWN!” the entire time,’ another shared.
‘Dude just went through surgery and everything just to flip and tear his s*** up again,’ a fifth bemoaned.
The running back suffered a broken right fibula and dislocated right ankle against the Eagles
The 24-year-old had been enjoying an impressive rookie season before his injury last year
‘He’s still carrying excess weight and totally misjudged the flip. The boy is daft, but we all knew that already really,’ added a sixth.
Skattebo was enjoying a fine rookie season until he suffered a broken right fibula and dislocated right ankle against the Philadelphia Eagles in October.
He went under the knife and has been in rehab ever since and is targeting a return in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
It wasn’t the first time that he has flirted with disaster during the offseason. Back in May, during an appearance in the Brian Burns Celebrity Softball Game he scored a home run and then celebrated with a backflip.
That time, Skattebo landed the acrobatics without a hitch but the celebration left fans divided with some taking it as proof that the running back’s recovery is on track.
It is not the first time Skattebo has hit the headlines while sidelined. Just weeks after his surgery, he made a WWE cameo at Madison Square Garden, prompting more concern over his health.
Earlier this year, meanwhile, he was forced to apologize after claiming that CTE is not real. Skattebo sparked fury with his baseless comments about CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) on the ‘Bring The Juice’ podcast.
The neurodegenerative brain disease, which is believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head, has been found in 345 of 376 deceased NFL players.
Skattebo has been no stranger to making headlines while sidelined with injury
But when the Giants running back was asked if he believes it is real, he said: ‘No, [CTE] is an excuse.’ Skattebo also went on to dismiss the medical reality of asthma, calling the breathing disease ‘fake.’
After coming under fire over his comments, the 24-year-old took to Instagram to issue an apology.
‘I recently did an interview and had a lapse in judgement, which resulted in me making a tasteless joke about CTE and asthma. It was never my intention to downplay the seriousness of head injuries and asthma,’ Skattebo wrote on his story.
‘I sincerely apologize to anyone that was offended by my remarks, and I assure you that I’ll be more mindful and respectful going forward. MUCH LOVE!!!’
